Oct 7 - Psalm 23:6a

and I will dwell in the house

of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23:6b

KJV

I often pray this Psalm at hospital beds …

… and at funerals.

Through its course, this Psalm talks about the valley of the shadow of death and acknowledges the seasons of grief.

It ends though with triumph. And with confidence.

If you believe this statement, there’s power in your life. I’ve seen it and felt it. Indeed, I’ve watched this power unfold before my eyes – even in the midst of hard circumstances.

Yes, this world may indeed smack you around. Yes, this world may even knock you down on occasion. But when you have this confidence, you know, absolutely, that this world does not have the final word.

In this world, “you will grieve,” said Jesus in John 16:20, “but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy when you see me again.”

What’s keeping you from this confidence?

•      Doubt? Faith is a choice. Pray, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24, NKJV).
•      Guilt? If Jesus could forgive those who nailed him to the cross, he will absolutely forgive you. As it says in Romans 5:8, “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
•      Despair? Don’t just look at your immediate trials. Look back and remember all the blessings in the past. If God has blessed you before, he can and will bless you again.

Part of living in this broken world, said Jesus, is that “you will grieve.” Yes, but what will happen when claim the confidence of dwelling in the house of the Lord forever? “Your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy when you see [Jesus] again.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who chooses to not look down …

but to look up in confidence